Chapter 275
Anastasia almost let out a cold laugh. Threatening her husband with Alice? Were those kidnappers out of their minds?
But judging from the situation, it seemed Alice hadn’t told the truth to her captors. Maybe she’d even exaggerated her importance to Harrison, which would explain why the kidnappers were so smug-so sure of themselves that they dared demand Harrison come meet them in person.
Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Anastasia feigned surprise and asked, “Alice? How could she possibly end up in the hands of kidnappers?”
Yes, how indeed? The same question had dawned on both Harrison and Logan.
If the kidnappers wanted leverage, Anastasia would have been a far more obvious choice than Alice. Why bother kidnapping Alice?
As Harrison recalled the strange leak of confidential medical records, his eyes suddenly turned icy.
A chill crept down Logan’s spine as well. He was starting to realize that if Alice served a different purpose in all this, then this so-called “negotiation” might have been a trap designed for Mr. Harrison Lancaster from the very beginning.
Fear flashed in Logan’s eyes. “Mr. Lancaster
Harrison’s gaze darkened as he looked down at the woman in his arms.
He’d almost gone to the meeting last night, but Anastasia had suddenly complained of a headache and held him back.
Now, the woman who’d been weak and whimpering just minutes ago was bright- eyed and lively, her gaze darting around. She didn’t look the least bit ill.
Anastasia glanced up and met Harrison’s probing gaze entirely by accident.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Darling Orıginal content can be found at
“Not hurting anymore?” Harrison asked quietly.
Anastasia’s face stiffened for a split second. She quickly buried her head against his chest, guilt written all over her voice. “With you here, I don’t feel the pain anymore.”
Harrison’s large hand gently stroked the back of her head. “I owe you for this, Ana. If it weren’t for you, I’d have walked right into someone’s trap.”
His tone betrayed no suspicion.
Anastasia stammered, “It was nothing… really, just a coincidence. You were lucky, that’s all
“Was I?”
Harrison looked down at her, her face hidden in his arms, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. He just smiled, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his gaze, but let the matter drop.
“Mr. Lancaster, what about this Logan gestured to the box and the letter in his hands.
Harrison lifted his eyes.
***
Out in the suburbs, an abandoned villa stood silent and cold.
Alice lay on the grimy floor, covered in blood, curled up like a discarded rag. Her face was ghostly pale, one hand resting in a pool of blood, twitching now and then. On closer inspection, it was obvious-she was missing a finger.
“Still no sign of him?”
A handful of burly men lounged on dusty couches. One of them, a bearded brute, ground out his half-smoked cigarette and stood, glaring at Alice with menace.
A lackey replied nervously, “Not yet
The bearded man’s eyes flashed with cruelty. He strode over and kicked Alice hard in the ribs. “You little tramp, you’re not lying to us, are you? Are you really Mr. Harrison Lancaster’s mistress?”
Alice screamed in pain and sobbed, “No, I’m not lying! I swear, I’m telling the truth!”
“Hmph. You’d better not be. If Mr. Lancaster doesn’t show, you’ll die right here.”
Alice’s eyes went wide with terror. “No, no-he’ll come, I promise! He loves me, he’d never just abandon me!”
The bearded man’s henchman eyed her with suspicion. “Boss, I don’t know… If she really were Mr. Lancaster’s mistress, would she have handed over his secrets so easily? Why would she help us set him up?”